An Ariston CLAS HE 38 combi boiler has been installed at Kimber House, the MG Car Club’s Headquarters in Abingdon, as part of a major extension and refurbishment project that included the installation of a brand new heating and hot water system. The CLAS HE 38 was selected to upgrade the previous Ariston boiler, which had been installed back in 1996 and, although still operational, was not a condensing boiler, no longer energy efficient and was unsuitable for the new system.

Energy efficiency was an important consideration in the selection of the CLAS HE, as this boiler range incorporates the innovative AUTO Function, Ariston’s ‘intelligent’ temperature management system. When activated via a simple button on the control panel, the AUTO Function will ensure that the boiler will choose the ideal temperature for the central heating circuit by increasing that of the system water, until the room reaches the set temperature. As a result, the boiler not only reaches the desired temperature but it does so with optimum efficiency whilst minimising thermal stress, prolonging the life of the boiler. To increase efficiency still further, an Ariston Outdoor Sensor and a Modulating Room Control have also been integrated with the boiler, which work in conjunction with the AUTO Function and will significantly reduce the energy use of the building in excess of 10%.

Kimber House, named after Cecil Kimber - the first Managing Director of the MG Car Company - is situated on the original MG Factory site and is a working building, although it attracts around 80 visitors every month. Due to the historic ties of the old house, moving premises was considered out of the question, so the obvious decision was to build an extension to cater for the continually expanding club. The boiler services a total of five wash hand basins and two kitchen sinks, including new toilet facilities and a kitchenette in the extension, as well as the entire central heating circuit.

The boiler was installed by Warburton Building Services Ltd. of Oxford. Stephen Brandish, Small Works Manager, explained, “Being compact, the CLAS HE fitted easily into the space left by the previous boiler, which was in the first floor kitchen. After connecting the cold feed and hot water feeds to the boiler, which were on the opposite side to the previous model, the boiler was quick and simple to install. The Modulating Room Control and Outdoor Sensor were also straightforward to connect.”

Chris Seaward, PR & Marketing Officer for MG Car Club, said, “We looked to Ariston to provide us with a replacement boiler as the old model had proved to be so reliable. Kimber House is used as a meeting place for Club activity nationwide and, previously, a staff member would always have to be present when each meeting took place, to provide the key and the alarm code for the main building. The new extension has been designed to be self-sufficient, with its own entrance and alarm system, so members can come and go. This also influenced the choice of Ariston’s CLAS HE, as we wanted a boiler that was simple to use, so members could adjust the room temperature if necessary.”

The extension, named the John Thornley suite after the Club’s founder, contains an MG car which is always on show (currently a 1953 YB), as well as photographs and archives. The MG Car Club organises a wide range of events and activities for MG owners and admirers, as well as offering comprehensive technical and historical information for every single model of MG, from the 1930’s to the present day. Since it was formed in 1930, with only 30 members attending the first meeting, the Club has accumulated a large following and now has over 35,000 affiliated members worldwide. To find out more about the MG Car Club, Click Here